A search and rescue operation by emergency workers in Ireland has led to the recovery of the corpse of a 16-year-old Nigerian, Emmanuel Familola, who drowned while swimming in a river in the Buncrana Community.

It was gathered on Monday from a report by local media, Raidió Teilifís Éireann, that the incident happened on Saturday, May 10, after the teenager, alongside two others, encountered difficulties while swimming.

The report noted that a search and rescue party was deployed to the area following an alarm raised by witnesses.

“The body of a teenager has been recovered from waters off the coast of Co Donegal after three teenagers got into difficulty while swimming in Lough Swilly yesterday afternoon.

“The body was discovered last night between Ned’s Point and Fahan, close to the town of Buncrana, and was removed to Letterkenny University Hospital. It followed an extensive air and sea rescue operation to find the teenager who was missing.

“The alarm was raised after the teenagers, aged between 16 and 19, encountered difficulty while swimming around 4 p.m. One of the teenagers managed to swim ashore. A third was taken from the sea and was brought to Letterkenny General Hospital, where his condition is said to be very serious.”

Meanwhile, a member of the Irish Parliament representing the Donegal Constituency, Padraig Mac Lochlainn, has set up a GoFundMe to raise funds for the burial of the deceased teenagers.

He confirmed that two of the teenagers, including Familola and 18-year-old Matt Sibanda, lost their lives in the incident.

In a message shared on his Facebook page, Lochlainn described the death of the teenagers as sad, stating that, “There has been widespread shock and sadness following the deaths of 16-year-old Emmanuel Familola and 18-year-old Matt Sibanda in the drowning tragedy.”

He continued, “A GoFundMe page has just been set up by Insight Inishowen to raise funds to help cover the funeral costs for their devastated families.”

A check on the GoFundMe account revealed that a total of €41,515 had been raised, exceeding the €40,000 target.

A message accompanying the GoFundMe account indicated that the funds raised would be shared equally among the families of the deceased teenagers.

“As one of the member groups of The Exchange Community Centre, on behalf of the whole Buncrana Community that has been devastated by Saturday’s tragic loss of two beautiful teenagers, Insight Inishowen is raising funds to help support the devastated families.

“Having the privilege to know the boys and the families, we are heartbroken by their loss and want to do everything to help ease the financial burden at a time of such unimaginable pain and loss.

“Please, join us in supporting them in their darkest hour. As a registered charity, Insight Inishowen will ensure that every penny raised will be divided equally between the two grieving families,” the message read. (The PUNCH, but headline rejigged)